Operations Leader, Alternative Project Delivery [Civil Engineering]

The Opportunity:

McElhanney is excited to announce an opportunity for an Operations Leader to become part of our Alternative Project Delivery (APD) team in Surrey, British Columbia. This opportunity is part of our succession planning efforts, prompted by the promotion of the Operations Leader to a senior leadership role as the Vice President of Project Delivery Surrey. Reporting to the Vice President Vancouver Region Engineering, the successful candidate will be based out of our Surrey office.  

At McElhanney, we care; about each other, our clients, and our communities. We are driven by our grit, passion, and perseverance. We rally behind safety and respect for all, and we own it. With our core values acting as our guiding principles in every decision that we make, our executive leaders show up each day to lead our firm with purpose driven direction, and our people with support and care.

Who we are, and how we act matters to us. We know that women are under-represented in the engineering profession, in Canada and elsewhere, and we are committed to ensuring McElhanney recognizes the contribution women can make in leadership roles.

To fill this role, we are seeking a leader with strong business and financial acumen, decision-making, and people leadership skills and a track record of managing diverse, multi-disciplinary teams and well connected within the regional market and the surrounding areas. In particular, we are looking for someone who is excited by the prospect of implementing their own independent strategies for development, while at the same time enjoying the benefits of support and collaboration from a larger organization.

As a seasoned professional, you will execute strategic objectives and meet Key Performance Indicators across McElhanney’s four cornerstones of People & Communities, Clients & Partners, Processes & Technology, and Financial. To accomplish this, you will be the leader in cultivating a positive work culture, have an unmatched drive for success, and be passionate about your role as a catalyst for excellence in the branch, in the region and in the company. As the Operations Leader you believe in the continuous development of a strong, cohesive, branch culture that priorities a shared commitment to safety, respect, and inclusion for all.

Note to internal candidates: This is a Branch Manager role, however, to align with industry terminology, the title of the position is advertised as "Operations Leader".

Deadline to apply: January 2, 2025, 8:59pm PT  

Background:

McElhanney’s APD team specializes in engineering infrastructure projects that are procured thru methods that are not traditional design-bid-build (i.e., Design-Build, Design-Build-Own-Operate, Progressive Design-Build, Early Contractor Involvement, Alliance, Public-Private-Partnerships, etc). As the Operations Leader, you will be a key figure in motivating a high-performing team of multidisciplinary consulting professionals and exploring new ways to expand our niche services across Western Canada.   

The team consists of nearly 30 professional and technical staff, including three discipline leaders, who deliver projects locally within the Lower Mainland community and across Western Canada. We are a group of passionate and skilled individuals who take pride in our work and embrace a collaborative, positive team culture. We support each other’s growth and value diverse perspectives, creating an environment where everyone can contribute, learn, and innovate. We believe in open communication, mentorship, and celebrating our successes together, fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to make an impact.

Key Responsibilities:

Working closely with the Vice President of APD and Project Delivery, regional Operations Leaders, you will lead branch operations for the APD team in Surrey and work to achieve operational excellence by optimizing collaboration and talent sharing across the region and company.

• Sponsor project manager(s) and team in the successful execution of engineering services of major APD procured projects 
• Get involved in execution of APD projects as technical leader when required.
• Lead in the management, workload, staffing, safety, processes, quality, and financial outcomes of the branch.
• Recruit, hire, mentor, coach and guide a team of project coordinators, engineers, technologists and discipline leaders to elevate staff potential & performance and foster an engaged and inclusive workplace culture  
• Work with regional and companywide leaders to successfully win and deliver on APD projects
• Develop and negotiate engineering contracts (i.e. scope, schedule, price, legal & risk) and associated change orders (where applicable)
• Represent McElhanney to the external environment including clients, businesses, and professional associations to enhance McElhanney’s positive public profile
• Assist the Vice President of APD in the development of annual strategic plans. Develop branch budget and quarterly forecasting and achieve financial KPI’s and targets
• Ensure the branch has the right people, in the right positions, doing the right things; aligned perfectly to fulfill our company purpose: ACE: Amaze our clients, Care for our communities, Empower our people

Qualifications: 

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering and a professional accreditation in a field applicable to our business.
• Experience: A minimum of 15+ years progressive APD work experience working on Western Canada Infrastructure Projects (i.e. Transportation, Transit, Cities & Communities) most recent of which should be at equivalent of discipline leader (division manager) level or above.

Skills & Attributes for success:

• Strong technical and project management skills with the ability and proven track record to deliver at least three APD projects from inception to completion
• Strong understanding how consulting companies operate, generate revenue, and dynamics of the industry.
  
  
• A proven track record of strong business development and fostering long-term client and partner relationships particularly with growing clients, gaining new clients, and/or providing new services
• A positive attitude, the ability to build trust and engagement and a desire to support team growth
• Ability to prioritize, delegate responsibilities and lead, develop, and motivate high performing teams
• A proven willingness to embrace technology to meet future client, industry and McElhanney needs and expectations allowing us to achieve our BHAG
• Superior organizational and communication (written & verbal) skills
• Proven success of building and fostering strong relationships within an organization, while delivering on performance objectives

What Can We Offer You?

The salary range for this position is $140,000 to $200,000 per annum. McElhanney offers fair compensation that is commensurate with the individual’s education, experience, skills, and professional qualifications. The posted base salary/wage range is representative of the required level of qualifications and experience for the position as noted in the job posting. The salary offered will be based on the experience and qualifications of the successful candidate.

In addition to a competitive salary, we also offer:

• Opportunity for the right candidate to become a shareholder in an employee-owned company
• Flexible work hours to accommodate your lifestyle
• Great benefits, including extended health and dental coverage, healthcare spending account, and RRSP matching.
• Relocation assistance if applicable
• Maternity leave top-up and parental leave top-up
• Participation in our generous Performance Bonus Plan
• Employee and Family assistance program, which offers 24/7 support for all employees and their families either online or over the phone
• Continuous support for your professional development and growth 

Application Instructions:

Please include the following in your application:

1. An updated resume that is relevant to the position.
2. A cover letter that includes:

• Your motivation for applying for this position, highlighting what specifically attracts you to the role.
• Explain how your unique blend of skills and experiences would enable you to make a significant impact as both a people leader and a business leader at McElhanney.
  

This role is designated as a safety sensitive position.


Deadline to apply: January 2, 2025, 8:59pm PT 

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

If this is the opportunity for you, apply now or visit www.mcelhanney.com/careers to learn more. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

 

To learn more about our recognition as Canada's Top 100 Employers (2024), visit Top Employer: McElhanney Ltd. (canadastop100.com).

Visit us on Glassdoor to learn more about our employee experience.

Our Purpose: Amaze our clients. Care for our communities. Empower our people.